Lose those pounds!

I am literally laughing out loud as I write this because I know so many of you who will read this post are already rolling your eyes at the title. It is one of my New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and to be at an ideal 175. Now, I know this one liner is on everyone’s list for the start of a new 365 days but mine is driven by something other than looking good.

For me, exercise is not fun. I am surrounded with performers in a cut throat world, where the gym is like a second home, striving to have the perfect body. I get it because the audition circuit is pretty superficial in that everyone should be a certain size to make it on film, theatre, or TV and have a perfectly chiseled face and abs. This is not true but is surely is the mindset and precognition to being successful in the genre I live in. So losing weight becomes something that is career minded, self-absorbed and simply to look the best. If this is why you diet, exercise or lose weight that is TOTALLY FINE, just saying it is not my motivation.

My grandfather passed away with a bad heart after having multiple surgeries. My dad had a major heart attack at 40 years old and had a stint put into his chest. There is nothing that should rock your world more than to get a call from your mom in the early morning hours that your dad is on the way to the hospital and not sure if he is going to make it. It made me health conscious for about 6 months but then I slowly forgot that moment. The doctors told me that heart disease is more than likely a case for me and that I should eat right and take care of myself. Skip ahead 18 years and I am the heaviest and most out of shape that I have ever been at 197 lbs. I don’t feel right, I get short winded and just know that overall I am not the healthiest that I can be. On top of that, last year I began cholesterol medicine because it was very high.

It is hard for me to eat right and something that I absolutely struggle with. After long hard days and usually 7 days a week of work, the last thing I want to do is eat a salad or grilled chicken. I don’t go out to clubs or do much of anything crazy so mine is eating some cheese fries, chocolate cake and fried chicken tenders with ranch. Oh, I am getting so very hungry just thinking about it! Stress consumes my day (which is also not good for your health and will be featured in another post) and I want some good eating! As hard as I try I’m not very good at sticking to the plan and my diet seems to start over every Monday. I do not enjoy lifting weights, running, or anything cardiovascular for that matter. I have very early mornings and very late nights and hopping on a treadmill at 6 AM or 11 PM sounds awful. You are thinking to yourself, Joshua, stop your whining. I am just being honest and that is what this blog is meant to achieve, honesty so that you too can be provoked to thought and challenged.

I am going to lose weight because I have much left to do on this earth. I owe it to my loved ones and to the friends that invest in me. I owe it the people I serve in CFCArts and I owe it those that are in my future that I have not even yet met. I owe it to my precious niece and nephew who adore Uncle Josh and who needs to be at their graduation and weddings.

I owe it to myself.

I will do whatever I can to eat healthy, ride my bike daily and take care of myself because I have much yet to accomplish. I could care less about looking good but I do want to be in the best shape I can for myself and for others. This is a another wake up call time and a chance to remember what the doctors said. This is a chance to take my weight and get a hold on it before it takes control of me. I want to be the very best ME.

What about you? Are you living the most healthy life possible? Are you eating the right foods, taking time to exercise and simply resting? I challenge you to do this with me. It can be Jenny Craig, Crossfit, LA Fitness, or just simply your own plan but do something. Start small if you must but start.

Let’s lose those pounds!

I want you to be the very most healthy and best YOU.

Much Love,

JV